Mechanism for selective operation of a plurality of master cylinders



Nov. 16, 1948. A. N. MlLsTER 2,453,852

MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVE OPERATION OF A PLURLITY OF MASTER CYLINDERS Filed Jan. 24, 1947 ATTORNEY,

Patented Nov. 16, 1948 MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVE OPERATION t OF A PLURALITY OF MASTER CYLINDERS Arthur N. Milster, St. Louis, Mo., assigner to Wagner Electric Corporation, St. Louis. Mo., a corporation oi' Delaware Application January 24, 1947., Serial No. 724,056

Claims. (Cl. Bil-54.5)

This invention relates to means for actuating pressure fluid operated devices and in its more specific aspects is directed to means for selectively severally or jointly operating the fluid motor means for said devices.

The object of this invention is to provide a pressure fluid system having a plurality of master cylinders, which may be actuated to produce a uniform uid pressure in all motors connected serially or in parallel thereto and in which each l to the ends of a double acting pressure fluid motor, master cylinder is connected to .pressure fluid which comprises a cylinder 36 and a piston 31, by motor means and with means provided to selecmeans of conduits 34 and 35 and suitable fittings. tively severally operate the motor means oriointly Suitable shut-oil' valves 34' and 35' are connected operate any two or more of the motor means. in each of the conduits 34 and 35. The double In the drawings v 5 acting pressure fluid motor is connected to an Figure 'i is a perspective view of a plurality of agricultural implement A by an appropriate linkmaster cylinders embodying the invention; and age and controls the depth of surface penetration Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line oi' the implement. The motor may be used to 2--2 of Figure 1. l control other devices, such as a. machine tool part Referring now to the drawings, numerals I, 2l 2 as shown in a companion application concur- 3, and 4 are master cylinder assemblies which are rently filed. suitably supported upon frame members 5 and 6 Master cylinder assemblies i and 2 are conand one end of each connected group of master structed in the same manner as master cylinder cylinders is pivotally connected to suitable anchor assemblies 3 and 4 and conduits 38 and 39, correbrackets i and 8 by pivot pins 9 and i0. Frame 4' spondina t0 conduits 34 and 35, are. however, members 5, and 6 support the opposite ends of connected to individual single acting pressure each connected group of master cylinders by fluid motors and 4l, respectively. These momeans of brackets ii and i2 through lev-ers i3 tors are preferably the\brake motors -of a tractor and i4 and pins i5 and i6. Piston rods I1 and i8 so and are returned to their initial position by the of master cylinder assemblies i and 3 are con-V return spring of the brake assembly with which nected to suitable brackets on lever i3 and i4, they are associated asis customary in the art. respectively, by means of pins i9 and 20. Fixtures 30 and 3i are provided with bosses 42 Figure 2 shows the details ofthe master cylinder and 43' which have axially arranged slots 48a assemblies and each assembly comprises a casing and 49a, respectively, therein. An actuating lever 2i having a fluid reservoir formed in the upper 3 44 is pivoted on a pin 4B fixed in bracket'45 suitpcrtion thereof. Cylinders 22 are formed in the ably secured to frame members 5 and 6. A fixture lower part thereof and each is provided with a 41 ls'dlsposed upon handle 44 and is D10V1dedW1lh piston 23 and a packing cup 24.- Ports 25 and projections 43 and 49, each of which is adapted 26 formed in the wall of each cylinder provide 40 t0 be selectively engaged in Sl0ts 48a and 49a of means for establishing communication between the interior of cylinders 22. 22 and their respective reservoirs.

The .piston rod I8 of master cylinder assembly 3 is integrally associated with piston 23 and in master cylinder assembly 4 the piston rod 21 has a telescopic connection with piston 23. Flexible protective boots 28 and 29 are provided for the purpose of preventing the ingress of grit and other foreign matter into the respective cylinders.

Each of the master cylinder assemblies is provided with suitable connecting fixtures 33 and 3l.

One end of each cylinder 22 is suitably ported and combined with the valve assemblies 33 controls the flow of fluid therefrom, A spring 23 is inserted between each packing cup 24 and valve assembly 33. Each valve assembly 33 may be constructed to operate similarly to those disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,349,416, issued May 23, 1944. A

The .port end of each cylinder 22 is connected bosses 42 and 43. handle 4 being capable of movement along pin 48.

Suitable adjustable stops 5i! and El are provided which are engageable with the operating levers i3 and i4 for the purpose` of taking up thrust during the operation of some of the master cylinders as will be subsequently set forth.

Another actuating lever 53 is pivotally connected to members 5 and B by means of pin 54 Suitable brackets provided onthe master cylinders cooperate with fixtures 3 and 3| to enable the two master cylinder assemblies to be rigidly connected by means of bolts' 32.

arranged in brackets and 66 and a transverse member 52 is connected to lever 53r and is of sufilcient length to be engageable with both levers i3 and i4.' Lever 53 is provided for the purpose of jointly operating all four master cylinder assemblies. Y

Referring now to the operation of the mechacasacca.

nism and assuming that the system is filled with a suitable fluid and it is desired to actuate piston 3l oi' the double acting pressure fluid motor to the left, lever 44 is shifted along pin 43 so that projection 4'8 will be inserted in slot 43a of boss 43. When the operating lever 44 is rotated in a clockwise direction, there will be relative motion between cylinder 22 and piston 23 closing of! portv 28 and forcing fluid past valve 33 in master cylinder assembly 4 and thence into the motor to move the piston to the left and lift implement A upward. If it is desired to actuate piston 31 to the right, then the operating lever 44 is rotated coun` ter-clockwise whereupon the previously described operation with respect to the fluid will take place in cylinder 22 of master cylinder assembly 3, thereby causing piston 31 to be actuated to the right and lowering implement A. During this latter operation the adjustable stop 50 absorbs the thrust caused by the compression of the fluid in the master cylinder of assembly 3.

When it is desired to lock implement A in a y raised position, lever 44 is shifted to actuate master cylinder assembly 4 and piston 31 will be moved to the left and when the proper raised position of implement A is reached, valve 35' is closed to entrap uid in the motor to the right of piston 31. Thereafter lever 44 is actuated to the left or lever I4 maybe actuated to the right to actuate master cylinder assembly 3 to apply the necessary pressure to the left side of piston 31 whereupon valve 34" is closed, thereby locking implement A in raised position. When implement A is to be locked in a lowered position, lever 44 is shifted to actuate master cylinder assembly 3, thereby moving piston 31 to the right, then valve 34 is closed, entrapping uid in the left end of the motor and thereafter lever I4 or lever 44 may be actuated to the rightvto actuate master cylinder assembly 4 until the necessary pressure is applied to the right side of piston 3'I whereupon valve 35 is closed, thereby locking implement A in a lowered position. Lever I4, when actuated, willactuate both master cylinder assemblies but since fluid is entrapped on one side of piston 31 because of the closure of valves 34 or 35 only that master cylinder assembly will apply pressure in which circuit either of valves 34' or 35 is open.

In the event it is desired to actuate motors 40 and 4I, which are operatively connected to master cylinder assemblies I and 2 and may, e. g., actuate the brakes on the drive wheels of a tractor, then operating lever 4'4 will be moved to the left, as viewed in Figure l, to enable the projection 49 to 'be inserted in slot 49a in boss 42 whereupon the same selective operation may Ibe applied to the master cylinder assemblies I and 2, as described in connection with master cylinder assemblies 3 and 4. The motors are individually operated to assist in the steering of the tractor. When both master cylinder assemblies I and 2 are actuated by lever I3, equal pressure is produced in each and both motors are actuated to arrest motion in the tractor. In the event the dual motor is actuating a machine tool part, then master cylinder assemblies I and 2 and the motors connected thereto would obviously be associated with other parts of the machine tool.

If it is desired to operate all four master cylinder assemblies, then actuating lever 53 is rotated in a clockwise direction whereupon both actuating levers I3 and I4 will lbe moved in a clockwise direction and the same operation as set forth above for each of the individual units will @be performed simultaneously, thereby developing equal pressure in each master cylinder and causing the double acting motor and the single acting motors 40 and 4I to be simultaneously actuated and with equal pressure.

The pivotal connections at 3, I0. I3, and enaible the assemblies to pivot relatively to the respective supports during the operation of each of the units jointly or severally to prevent any possible binding of the pistons in the respective cylinders.

The return movement of pistons 23 in cylinders 22 of master cylinder assemblies 3 and 4 to the position indicated in Figure 2 is accomplished by springs 23' after the operator releases lever I4 or 44. When master cylinder assemblies I and 2 are actuated, the same springs therein return them to inoperative position assisted lby the return springs on the brake assemblies with which motors 4.3 and 4'I are associated, the springs in said brake assemblies compressing fluid in the conduits 38 and 39 and forcing it past valves corresponding to valves 33 in the cylinders of the master cylinder assemblies I and 2 as is well known in the art.

Having fully described my invention, that which I claim as novel and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A mechanism comprising a plurality of pressure fluid motor means; a plurality of pressure fluid producing means; means to establish communication between each motor means and a pressure fluid producing means; a shiftable member to selectively severally actuate said pressure uid producing means to thereby severally selectively actuate said motor means; means to selectively apply equal pressure to some of said motor means; means to selectively apply equal pressure 'to the other of said motor means; and means to apply equal pressure to all of said motor means.

2. A mechanism comprising two pressure fluid actuated motors; a pressure fluid producer connected to each motor; a dual motor which includes a cylinder having a piston therein dividing the cylinder into two chambers; a pressure fluid producer connected to each chamber; a lever to severally selectively actuate any of said pressure fluid producers; a lever to jointly actuate the pressure fluid producers connected to said two motors to enable both of said motors to have a substantially equal pressure applied to each; a lever to jointly actuate the pressure fluid producers connected to said dual motor chambers to apply a substantially equal pressure to both sides of said piston to prevent motion thereof; and a lever to jointly actuate all of said pressure fluid producers to thereby apply equal pressure to all motors.

3. A mechanism comprising two pressure fluid actuated motors; a pressure fluid producer ccnnected'to each motor; means to connect said pressure fluid producers together; a dual motor which includes a cylinder having a piston therein dividing the cylinder into two chambers; a pressure fluid producer connected to each chamber; means to connect said last mentioned pressure iluid producers together; a lever to severally selectively actuate any of said pressure fluid producers; a lever to jointly actuate the pressure fluid producers connected to said two motors to enable both of said motors to have a substantially equal pressure applied to each; a lever to jointly actuate the pressure fluid producers `connected to said dual motor to apply a substanmatassa tially equal pressure to both sides of said piston to prevent motion thereof; and a lever to jointly actuate all of said pressure fluid producers to thereby apply equal pressure -to all motors.

4. A mechanism comprising two pressure iluid actuated motors; a pressure uid producer connected to each motor; means to rigidly connect said producers together; means to pivotally support said connected pressure iluid producers; a

dual motor which includes a cylinder having apiston therein dividing the cylinder into two chambers; a pressure uid producer connected to each chamber; means to rigidly connect said last mentioned pressure fluid producers together;

lmeans to pivotally support said last mentioned ducers connected to said dual motor to apply a. substantially equal pressure to both sides of said piston to prevent motion thereof; and a lever 6 to jointly actuate all of said pressure uid producersto thereby apply equal pressure to all motors.

5. A mechanism comprising two motors; a pressure fluid producer connected to each motor; a dual motor comprising a cylinder having a piston therein to divide' the cylinder into two chambers; a pressure fluid producer connected to each chamber; a pivoted lever to selectively severally actuate the pressure fluid producers; a second lever to jointly actuate the pressure fluid producers connected to said two motors to thereby apply a substantially equal pressure to each motor; a third lever to jointly actuate the pressure Iiuid producers connected to said chambers to thereby apply a substantially equal pressure to both sides of said piston to prevent motion thereof; and a fourth lever to jointly actuate all of said pressure fluid producers to thereby apply a substantially equal pressure to both of said motors and to both sides of said piston.

l ARTHUR N. MIISTER.

No references cited. 

